Fake job offer emails use real company logos and professional language to trick students into giving up credentials or paying fees. Here is a 7-point check that lets you identify a fraudulent job email in under a minute.
Why This Matters
Scammers harvest email addresses from job portals and LinkedIn, then send convincing offer letters from fake domains. By the time a student realises the company is fake, they may have shared Aadhaar, bank details, or paid fees.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Check 1 — Sender email domain: The email must come from the company's official domain. A Google job offer from hr@google-jobs.net is fake — it must be from @google.com.
- 2Check 2 — Verify the domain registration: Search the sender's email domain on whois.domaintools.com to see when it was registered — a domain registered last month sending job offers is fraudulent.
- 3Check 3 — Did you apply?: If you did not apply to this company, treat any unsolicited offer with extreme suspicion.
- 4Check 4 — Hover over all links: Before clicking any link in the email, hover over it to see the real URL. It must go to the company's official website.
- 5Check 5 — Search the email address online: Put the full sender email in Google — fraudulent addresses often appear in scam reports.
- 6Check 6 — Call the company directly: Call the company's main switchboard number found on their official website and ask if this offer is genuine.
- 7Check 7 — Payment request: Any mention of fees, deposits, or charges in a job offer email means it is fraudulent — stop all contact immediately.
✅ Quick Tips to Remember
- The sender domain must match the company's official website exactly
- Search the recruiter's name and email on LinkedIn before responding
- Never open attachments from job offer emails you were not expecting
- Legitimate companies never ask for payment during the hiring process
- Trust your instincts — if the email feels off re-read it looking for inconsistencies
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Checking only the display name of the sender and not the actual email address. Clicking links in the email before verifying the sender. Providing personal documents like Aadhaar or PAN before verifying the company is real.
⚠ Warning Signs You Are Already at Risk
- Sender email is from a free domain like Gmail or Yahoo
- Email asks you to complete urgent steps within 24 or 48 hours
- Any mention of a fee deposit or payment
- You cannot find this company or recruiter anywhere on LinkedIn
- The email contains attachments asking you to sign and return